Belt buckle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a belt buckle, comprising two buckle members fastened on belt ends, the first ( 1 ) of said members having a receiving compartment ( 6 ) in which the second buckle member ( 2 ) is axially inserted. Said second buckle member comprises snap-fit members that are adjusted against a spring force and that interact with undercuts in the first buckle member to secure the fitted buckle members ( 1,2 ). The inventive belt buckle is further characterized in that the buckle members consist of cast metal and that the snap-fit members are impinged upon by at least one mechanical return spring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a belt buckle that is comprised of two bucklemembers that can be secured to belt ends, with the first buckle memberhaving a receiving means for the axial insertion of the second bucklemember, which contains latching or snap-fit elements that are adjustableagainst spring force and that, to secure the inter-engaging bucklemembers, cooperate with undercuts in the first buckle member.

Such belt buckles are conventionally made of plastic, whereby thesnap-fit elements of the second buckle member essentially have the shapeof tongues, whereby the spring force, depending upon the material, isrespectively a function of the plastic that is used.

The drawback of such plastic belt buckles is that they can break underabrupt shocks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt buckle thatis improved in this respect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To realize this object, the buckle members are made of cast metal,whereby the snap-fit elements are pivotable about a rigid axis, and aresupported by a mechanical spring, preferably a compression spring.

The buckle members are preferably made of cast brass or cast zinc, andhave a surface that is processed or finished by shot hardening andsubsequent galvanization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail subsequently with theaid of the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the two buckle members, which can beinserted into one another in the direction of the arrow f1;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the two buckle members, specificallydepicting use of a spring, designated with a spring symbol “S” showingdirectionality of the force of the spring;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the two inter-engaging buckle members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Each buckle member is provided at its back end with an eye or loop likeopening 3 and 4 respectively for the securement of the buckle members 1and 2 to the belt ends 5 that are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1.The buckle member 1 is provided with a receiving chamber 6 that is opentoward the front end of the buckle member and that is delimited by upperand lower wall portions 7 and 8 as well as side walls 9 and 10. Pursuantto FIG. 2, the upper and lower wall portions 7 and 8 are provided withaligned cutouts or notches 11 and 12 respectively.

The dimensions of the second buckle member 2 are coordinated with thefirst buckle member 1 in such a way that the second buckle member can beinserted or pushed into the receiving chamber 6 of the first bucklemember, and It accordingly comprises a tongue-like main body 13 to whichare articulated or coupled two latching or snap-fit elements 14,15 insuch a way that when the buckle member 2 is inserted into the bucklemember 1, the snap-fit elements can pivot inwardly. As soon as thesnap-fit elements 14 and 15 enter the notches 11,12, they are moved orpivoted outwardly by the compression spring (as depicted by box “S” inFIG. 2) that acts upon them, so that their rearwardly facing corners14.1 and 1.1 come to rest against the side wall portions 9 and 10 thatare located in the front portion of the buckle member 1. These side wallportions 9 and 10 thus essentially have the function of undercuts behindwhich the corners 14.1 and 15.1 catch.

To release the buckle, the snap-fit elements 14 and 15 are manuallypressed inwardly in a direction of the arrow f2, so that the rearcorners 14.1 and 15.1 are released from the undercuts.

The inventive buckle members are preferably made of die cast brass orsand cast brass or of die cast zinc. The outer surfaces are preferablyfinished by shot hardening and subsequent galvanization. Thegalvanization is preferably carried out in a nickel or brass bath. Inthe event that the galvanization is effected in a chromium bath, agalvanic copper plating preferably takes place first.

The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of Germanpriority document 20007724.4 filed 2 May 2000 and International prioritydocument PCT/DE01/01585 filed 26 April 2001.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the

What is claimed is:
 1. A belt buckle comprising: a first buckle membermade of cast metal; a second buckle member made of cast metal, whereinsaid first and second buckle members are adapted to be connected to beltends, and wherein said first buckle member is provided with a receivingchamber for an axial insertion of said second buckle member therein;snap-fit elements disposed in and coupled to said second buckle memberand displaceable against spring force, wherein, to secure said first andsecond buckle members when they inter-engage one another, said snap-fitelements cooperate with undercuts provided in said first buckle member;and at least one mechanical return spring provided in said second bucklemember to effect said spring force against said snap-fit elements.
 2. Abelt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second bucklemembers are made of cast brass.
 3. A belt buckle according to claim 1,wherein said first and second buckle members are made of cast zinc.
 4. Abelt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second bucklemembers have a surface processed by shot hardening and subsequentgalvanization.
 5. A belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein said firstand second buckle members have a surface processed by galvanization in anickel bath.
 6. A belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein said firstand second buckle members have a surface processed by galvanization in abrass bath.
 7. A belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein said firstand second buckle members have a surface processed by copper plating andsubsequent galvanization in a chromium bath.
 8. A belt buckle accordingto claim 1, wherein said snap-fit elements are supported against atleast one compression spring.
 9. A belt buckle according to claim 1,wherein each of said first and second buckle members has either aninsertion element or a receiving element disposed in a first plane, andfurthermore has a portion that is provided for connection to belt endsand that is disposed in a second plane that is disposed at an angle tosaid first plane.